Livin’ in a “Grimm” World…

Posted about 4 years ago|Comments Off on Livin’ in a “Grimm” World…

A Review of NBC’s “Grimm” by Tiffany A. White

With summer coming to an end, and the new fall television schedule right around the corner, I’ve decided to feature a show that I am looking forward to returning in the 2013/2014 TV season… NBC’s Grimm.

Grimm follows Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) as he balances his life solving murders and learning that he comes from a long line of criminal profilers (Grimms) responsible for protecting the people of the world against the supernatural.

I first fell in love with the crime drama/dark fairy tale for a few reasons. The attention to detail and fantastic one-liners in the pilot (about Little Red Riding Hood) hooked me immediately and to this day might still be my favorite episode.

The series began as a sorority girl departs from her house wearing a bright red hoodie and listening to the Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams” as she sets out for her morning jog through the woods. While on her run, the girl spots an odd figurine positioned on a rock. She stops to investigate when she is suddenly tackled by something with lightning fast speed.

Nick and his partner, Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby), drive out to the scene of the crime where they discover a jogger has been ripped apart in the woods. The detectives assume an animal is responsible for the attack, although they can’t seem to locate any animal tracks—only boot tracks.

Later that night, Nick returns home to discover his Aunt Marie has stopped by on a surprise visit. After a cryptic, “we need to talk,” Nick and his aunt go for a walk and she begins to tell him that his family has a secret. His parents didn’t die in an accident; they were murdered. Why is she telling him this now? She is dying, and the Grimm powers will pass to him in just a matter of days if they haven’t already.

Before she can tell him the complete story, Nick and his aunt are attacked by a Reaper of the Grimms. Nick can’t believe his eyes and he opens fire on the monster and shoots him dead, but not before the attack renders his aunt unconscious.

Reeling from the day’s events, Nick walks into his aunt’s travel-trailer where he finds an arsenal of bizarre weapons and an ancient family book revealing his destiny. All of this helps explain the event earlier in the day when he noticed a beautiful blonde walking down the street suddenly transform into nasty looking creature.

As most of us would with life-altering information such as this, Nick decides to keep his secret from his girlfriend (Juliette, played by Bitsie Tulloch) and his partner. For now, anyway.

The fairy tale continues the next day when Nick and his partner are called to another crime scene. This time, a younger girl has been kidnapped with the initials R.H. Coincidence?

This is where Nick tracks down Eddie Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), a reformed Big Bad Wolf. Monroe can see Nick as a Grimm immediately, but he reluctantly agrees to help Nick understand the mythology. Monroe also agrees to help track down the other Big Bad responsible for the little girl’s disappearance. He drives Nick out to the woods, sticking his head out the window along the way, sniffing out the other Big Bad’s scent. Afraid of what might happen if he gets too close, Monroe retreats as soon as they locate the cabin where his sense of smell has indicated the other Big Bad and little R.H. are located. Nick then calls Hank out to the woods, but explains he didn’t call for any additional backup because he “already cried wolf once.”

Of course, Hank doesn’t understand how Nick tracked this man down, but he believes his partner when he overhears the suspect humming the exact same song that had been playing in the jogger’s ear buds from the first crime scene. The take down ensues, little R.H. is rescued, and Grimm ends with the Marilyn Manson version of “Sweet Dreams” — I’ve got to know what’s inside you.

Let’s be honest—the song is what actually hooked me. Not only is it a favorite (either rendition), but the chosen lyrics foreshadowed what the episode had in store for us. Like I mentioned earlier, great attention to detail.

Now through two seasons, Grimm has aired more episodes and tackled fairy tales such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Pied Piper, Rapunzel, The Queen Bee, and the Three Little Pigs. The special effects and storylines are enticing; the use of Monroe in each episode to help Nick solve the case at hand is fun, and it is a bit heartwarming to see the two work together and develop a friendship between creature and Grimm; and the actual police procedural aspect of the story ranks up there with the other crime dramas on television today.

While I enjoyed the first year, season two really pulled me in. And now, I can’t wait for more of Grimm’s take on the classic fairy tale… bring on the creatures!